Editors’ Pick
Designed to Feel by Peter Burchardt
Designed to Feelby Peter Burchardt — on emotions, evolution & the science of feeling
View on Amazon →
Cover of The Haunting of Hill House
Horror· United States

The Haunting of Hill House

by Shirley Jackson
Aggregate Editorial Score44/100
★Bram Stoker Award
Published 1959246 pagesEnglish
Buy on Amazon →

About This Book

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson is a landmark work of horror, first published in 1959. Four people, led by parapsychologist Dr Montague, spend a summer in the architecturally disturbing Hill House, where reality and fear become indistinguishable. Jackson's subtle, terrifying masterpiece is the greatest haunted-house novel ever written and a profound study in psychological horror. Themes of haunted house, fear, identity run through the work. The book has received recognition from Bram Stoker Award 1959.

Book Details

AuthorShirley Jackson
Published1959
Country of Origin🇺🇸 United States
LanguageEnglish
Pages246
Category👻 Horror
ISBN9780143039983
Editorial Score44/100
About the Category

👻 Horror

Fiction designed to frighten, unsettle, or disturb the reader.

Explore all Horror books →
Country of Origin

🇺🇸 United States

This book is part of United States's rich literary tradition.

Explore books from United States →

Editorial Assessment

First published in 1959, Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House is a work of horror that has drawn sustained interest from critics and prize committees alike. Its engagement with haunted house, fear, identity, isolation gives the book a depth that extends well beyond its genre. The book's place in the literary record rests on its presence across major prize lists and critical surveys. Among its recognitions: Bram Stoker Award 1959. Its aggregate editorial score of 44/100 reflects recognition from 1 independent editorial sources, from international prizes to specialist critical journals. What distinguishes The Haunting of Hill House is how it handles its central concerns — haunted house, fear, identity, isolation — without reducing them to neat conclusions. The book invites close reading and holds up well to it. Within United States's literary landscape, Shirley Jackson occupies a significant position. The Haunting of Hill House is both a personal artistic statement and a contribution to a tradition shaped by the country's history and cultural concerns.
About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 1 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.

Awards & Recognition

Bram Stoker Award
list · genre
195921
✍️
About the Author
Shirley Jackson
United States
View Author →

Shirley Jackson is a celebrated author from United States known for influential works of horror.

Happy Children
The Parenting Companion
Happy Children
What Evolution Actually Built Your Child’s Emotions For
Your child’s emotions are not the problem. They are the operating system.
Get It on Amazon →Paperback & Kindle

What to Read Next

Cover of Bird Box
horror

Bird Box

Josh Malerman· 2014
★Bram Stoker Award
Editorial Score55/100
Cover of Frankenstein in Baghdad
fantasy

Frankenstein in Baghdad

Ahmed Saadawi· 2013
★Booker Prize
Editorial Score55/100
Cover of Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus
literary-fiction

Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus

Mary Shelley· 1818
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score55/100
Cover of Анна Каренина
literary-fiction

Анна Каренина

Лев Толстой· 1876
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score55/100
Cover of The Mayor of Casterbridge
literary-fiction

The Mayor of Casterbridge

Thomas Hardy· 1800
Publishers Weekly
Editorial Score55/100
Cover of The Jewel of Seven Stars
literary-fiction

The Jewel of Seven Stars

Bram Stoker· 1902
Library Journal
Editorial Score55/100

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Haunting of Hill House about?

Four people, led by parapsychologist Dr Montague, spend a summer in the architecturally disturbing Hill House, where reality and fear become indistinguishable. Jackson's subtle, terrifying masterpiece is the greatest haunted-house novel ever written and a profound study in psychological horror.

Who wrote The Haunting of Hill House?

The Haunting of Hill House was written by Shirley Jackson, from United States. First published in 1959.

What awards has The Haunting of Hill House won?

The Haunting of Hill House has received the following awards and honours: Bram Stoker Award 1959.

Is The Haunting of Hill House worth reading?

The Haunting of Hill House is a book that has earned critical recognition, with an aggregate editorial score of 21/100 on 50 Best Books, based on mentions across 1 editorial source. It is particularly recommended for readers interested in haunted house, fear, identity.

Where can I buy The Haunting of Hill House?

You can buy The Haunting of Hill House on Amazon. Click the Buy on Amazon button above to find the best edition.

What category is The Haunting of Hill House?

The Haunting of Hill House is classified as Horror. Fiction designed to frighten, unsettle, or disturb the reader.

What country is The Haunting of Hill House from?

The Haunting of Hill House originates from United States's literary tradition. Explore more books from United States on our country page.

Popular on 50 Best Books

Best Science Fiction Books of All TimeScience FictionBooker Prize Winners — Complete List & GuideLiterary PrizesNobel Prize in Literature — Every Winner Since 1901Literary PrizesClassic Literature Reading List — 50 Essential BooksReading GuidesBest Books for Beginners — 20 Easy Reads for New BookloversReading Guides

Explore More

👻More HorrorBrowse all Horror books🇺🇸Books from United States🇺🇸 United States literature📅1950s BooksPublished in the 1950s🏆Top 50 RankingsThe greatest books of all time